The "lost generation" could also be used to describe the group of NBA fans who are trying to decide on a team to root for in the aftermath of the great Michael Jeffrey Jordan.
The Phoenix Suns are the team for the casual NBA fan. The fan who lost interest in the NBA post-MJ days. The fan who occasionally decides to catch a game on tv and doesn't have a team that they root for. The type of fan that is drawn in by their uptempto, run and gun, shoot until your arm falls off style. The type of fan that prefers flashy style and flashy offense over defense and great strategy. The type of fan that actually likes to watch All Star games.
I call the Suns the television team. You are flipping through the channels and you stop to watch a few seconds and then you are drawn in by how they shoot the ball 10 seconds into every possession and how they feign playing defense so that they can get the ball back quicker and shoot it again. Television teams are overhyped by the media even though they have never really won anything as far as postseason play is concerned.
How can a team that is so great on offense and that shares the ball so well and runs such a smooth and efficient offense be so terrible on defense? If Steve Nash can make everyone else around him better on the offensive end then how come he can't do it on the other end of the court as well? With the athleticism that their team possesses how come they can't guard anyone? All are mysteries to me.
Yet, I have a gut feeling that the league (via officiating) might try to make their series with the Spurs stretch out longer than it should. An NBA playoffs with the Suns in it will get more viewers. I am not a true NBA conspiracy theorist but I do think the league does take a few subtle approaches to keep the big market and most popular teams in the playoffs at times. We'll just have to wait and see but I would bet on the Suns playoff hopes "setting" in 5 games or less.
